Holiday Valley’s Mountain Coaster to Open

Ellicottville, NY - The Grand Opening celebration of the Mountain Coaster at Holiday Valley’s Sky High Adventure Park will be held on Saturday, August 20 at 10AM. The Mountain Coaster is located in the Tannenbaum (western most) area of the resort and is next to the Aerial Adventure Park that opened earlier this summer. According to Holiday Valley’s President Dennis Eshbaugh, “the addition of the Mountain Coaster is an important piece of the whole resort that attracts visitors to Holiday Valley and the region on a year ‘round basis.”

The Mountain Coaster is similar to a roller coaster with cars that ride upon a track. One or two riders load a car and travel 1,865 feet up the hill parallel to the Spruce Lake lift. At the apex the car begins its thrilling 2,490 foot descent zigzagging and spiraling down through the woods. There are 15 curves, 12 waves, 2 jumps and a giant spiral along the length of the ride. The average grade is 15.2% with a maximum of 23.6%. Riders can accelerate or decelerate using handles on the sides of the car.

The coaster was designed, engineered and manufactured by Weigand of Germany and was shipped in 7 containers, each containing thousands of individual parts much like a giant Erector Set. Construction of the coaster was an intense 10 week process, as all of the parts and measurements were metric and the plans were written in German. The crew was led by 2 representatives of Weigand with the Holiday Valley Mountain Crew and 9 additional part-time workers who assembled and welded all of the pieces and then placed them in their exact location according to the plans. Several local contractors supplied concrete work, welding, carpentry work, logging, paving, stone masonry and wiring.

The Mountain Coaster will operate daily through September 5 and then weekends through at least October 9. The coaster will also operate during the winter season. The cost of a single ride is $6 during the summer season.

Belleayre Mountain Voted Top 3 Favorite Eastern Resort in 2011 SnowEast Reader Survey

Highmount, NY - The results are in and Northeast skiers and riders have spoken. With over 6000 votes counted in the 2011 SnowEast Reader Survey, Belleayre Mountain ranked in the Top 3 in Overall Favorite Eastern Resorts, behind only industry powerhouses Killington and Mount Snow.

SnowEast readers recognized Belleayre’s efforts over the past decade of growth, placing Belleayre in the top 10 Favorites in several categories. Belleayre has become renowned for their expanded snowmaking operation and expert grooming and the voters responded recognizing Belleayre as 6th in Favorite Snowmaking and 5th in Favorite Grooming.

Having opened in 1950 with the first chairlift in New York State it’s no surprise that Belleayre was voted 3rd in the Favorite Classic Resort category behind Mad River Glen (VT). Belleayre opened with a temporary base lodge and parking for 300 and has grown over the past 60 years to 171 skiable acres serviced by 8 lifts, with 55 trails, terrain parks, and extensive glades. With Belleayre’s expanded glade skiing, it is no longer necessary for expert skiers and riders to make a four hour drive to Vermont to get a taste of the trees. Belleayre employees’ hard work, dedication and teamwork have helped Belleayre to prove itself to be a leader in the ski industry. This is evidenced by the fact that over the past decade Belleayre has grown from 70,000 skier visits to an average of 170,000 skier visits.

Wilmington/Whiteface 100K Presented by SRAM Field begins to Fill

Wilmington, NY - From doctors to lawyers, Olympians to professional cyclists and even NFL punters, the inaugural Wilmington/ Whiteface 100K Mountain Bike Race presented by SRAM (WW100) will have a wide array of riders. Some of the more than 200 cyclists for Sunday’s, June 19, race are trying to qualify for August’s Leadville 100 MTB (LT 100), while others are hoping they can just complete the grueling 57-mile long course.

“Some of the cyclists have already been on the course preparing themselves physically and mentally,” said David Weins, the race’s technical director. Weins is also a six-time Leadville champion. “From what I’ve heard so far, everyone likes the course and the terrain that it covers. Some have even said the ‘climbs are fun.’ It’s demanding and will test these riders. This event will bring out the best from everyone in the field.”

“I’m pretty good at climbing, but my specialty is weaving through trails and trees,” added 2010 men’s singles luge Olympian Chris Mazdzer, of Saranac Lake, N.Y. “There are some pretty good climbs, especially up Whiteface … that’s a tough one to finish on.”

The race is scheduled to begin at 6:30 a.m., with a shotgun start from the Whiteface Mountain bridge. From there, the cyclists will tear down paved and dirt roads near Jay and Saddleback Mountains before returning to the Olympic mountain where a 2,566 foot climb awaits them before crossing the finish line.

The field’s top riders are expected to cross the finish line in about four hours. Racers will have a total of eight hours to complete the race.

“I really haven’t had a lot of time on a bike this summer,” continued Mazdzer. “I’m not really sure what to expect, but I plan on riding as much as I can, get some hours in, over the next several days and take it from there. I really don’t have a finish time in mind.”

Belleayre Music Festival Celebrates 20 Years of Art and Culture in the Mountains Memorial Day Weekend Fundraising Auction/BBQ Kicks Off Summer Fun

Highmount, NY - This Memorial Day Weekend the Belleayre Music Festival kicks off its 20th season with the annual BBQ Dinner Dance and Benefit Auction on Sunday, May 29. The evening will begin at 5pm with the silent auction viewing and a cocktail reception with wine and refreshments provided by the Board of Directors of the Belleayre Conservatory. The live auction will feature the dynamic duo of Belleayre’s own Tony Lanza and Kassie DePavia, country singer and star of One Life to Live. The auction will include original paintings, trips to San Francisco, St. Petersburg, Jackson Hole and the Dominican Republic, Broadway Theater and sports tickets (Giants/Mets), jewelry, antiques and collectibles plus priceless experiential lots. The live and silent auctions will also feature unique paintings and crafts of local Catskill artists and artisans. After the auction fun, the BBQ Dinner begins at 7:30pm which is followed by dancing into the night to the music of Special Delivery and Family. Don’t miss a great benefit for this treasured local organization.

The Belleayre Music Festival has finished booking the line-up of concert dates for 2011. This eclectic Music Festival begins on July 3 featuring superstar K. D. Lang. Other feature acts include Broadway star Tommy Tune, the legendary Creedence Clearwater Revisited, country star Clint Black, the smooth sounds of Mary Chapin Carpenter and more.

From Wilmington to Leadville

Leadville Qualifying Series Begins June 19 in Wilmington, N.Y.

Wilmington, NY - Baseball has its World Series, football the Super Bowl and mountain biking has the Leadville Trail 100 MTB Race (LT 100). The LT 100 is legendary.

Since 1994, the 103 mile long race, set 13,000 feet up in the treacherous Colorado Rocky terrain has tested each rider’s determination, guts and even sanity. So challenging and famous is this race, the LT 100 has even tested the toughness of seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, and Levi Leipheimer, the 2006 winner of the Dauphiné Libéré, and 2005 Deutschland Tour champion.

Due to the race’s international recognition and increased demand for participation, riders traditionally gained entry into the LT 100 by means of a lottery system, making it an extremely difficult race to access. This year, Life Time Fitness, Inc. and AEG announced the creation of the Leadville Qualifying Series for the 2011 LT 100. The 2011 qualifying series will consist of three races, with each race covering approximately 100 kilometers and providing 100 entries to the LT 100. Fifty of these spots will be allocated based on age-group performance and the other fifty will be distributed by a drawing among the finishers who have met the time standard that is specific to each qualifying event.

“This series will allow the LT 100 to become more attainable to some riders whose dream it has been to get to the LT 100,” said David Weins, a six-time Leadville 100 MTB race champion. “There are a lot of bikers out there that want a taste of what the LT 100 experience is all about, yet may not necessarily have the time to train for such an intense competition. The Leadville Qualifying Series gives riders a bit of the thrill and shows them a little of what the LT 100 is all about, it’s a stepping stone for riders out there looking for some adventure, but not yet ready to move on to the next level.”

One of those qualifying races is slated to take place Sunday, June 19, in Wilmington, N.Y. The inaugural Wilmington/ Whiteface 100k presented by SRAM is expected to bring more than 300 cyclists to the area, each hoping to grab one of those 100 coveted spots into the LT 100.

“The Town of Wilmington is very excited to be hosting this event and Leadville qualifier,” noted Randy Preston, Town of Wilmington supervisor. "This is a national caliber event that’s expected to bring the best of the best from competitive mountain biking. Wilmington and the surrounding region are known world-wide for spectacular rugged landscapes and that’s definitely going to challenge these riders.”

Party it up on Two Wheels in Wilmington

Wilmington, NY - The June 16-19 second annual Wilmington/ Whiteface Bike Fest, in Wilmington, N.Y., celebrates the bicycle. With activities and events including the Wilmington/Whiteface 100k bike race (one of three qualifiers for the Leadville 100), the Whiteface Uphill Road Race and the “Brainless Not Chainless Gravity Ride,” the four-day event promises to be a party on two wheels.

The festival kicks off Thursday, June 16, at 8 a.m., when the Wilmington Dirt Jump/Skills Park opens in the Wilmington Bike Park. Registration for the Uphill race and the “Brainless Not Chainless Gravity Ride” will also continue at the Whiteface Business and Tourism Center from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday also includes a “Fun Not Fear” MTB instructional clinic on the Flume trails from 4-6 p.m.

Friday’s schedule features the opening of the Whiteface Mountain bike downhill park, at 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., a free dirt jump clinic with Kyle Ebbett, 5-6 p.m., a jump jam & trials exhibition, 6-9 p.m., and the “Brainless Not Chainless Gravity Ride.” The parade of bikes begins at 4 p.m. with a Mass LeMans start at Santa’s Workshop and takes the participants downhill, 1.6-miles to Route 86. Awards will be presented at the Wilmington Bike Park for the best themed bike and for best costume.

The opening of the Bike Fest Village, at Whiteface Mountain, a ribbon cutting ceremony to open the Hardy Road Trail Network, at 10 a.m., and the 10th annual running of the Whiteface Uphill Bike Race highlight Saturday’s schedule. The village opens at 7 a.m. and throughout the day visitors can enjoy vendor displays, children’s event, food and entertainment. Admission is free.

The Uphill race begins at 5:30 p.m., and more than 340 cyclists are expected to climb New York State’s fifth highest peak via the Veterans Memorial Highway. The race is open to both road and mountain bicycles. The Whiteface event is the first race in the nine-race “Bike Up Mountain Points Series” (BUMPS) Series. An award ceremony and barbeque will be held at Santa’s Workshop beginning at 7 p.m.

Sunday’s Wilmington/Whiteface 100k begins at 6:30 a.m. and the festival’s village re-opens, at Whiteface at 7 a.m. More than 800 cyclists will race from Whiteface to Lewis and back to the Olympic mountain on the area’s paved and dirt roads, mountain bike trails and the Whiteface Mountain trails. It’s a test of determination, guts and even sanity for the opportunity to earn one of only 100 coveted entries into the Leadville Trail 100, mountain biking’s most prestigious race.

The weekend long festival is expected to bring 4,000 biking enthusiasts to the Wilmington region.

Wilmington to Host Prestigious Mountain Bike Race Qualifier

Wilmington, NY - The Town of Wilmington is pleased to announce that the region will host the Wilmington/Whiteface 100k Presented by SRAM, Sunday, June 19, 2011. Wilmington will serve as one of three qualifier series race host venues for the Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike Race, the best known and most prestigious mountain bike race in North America. "The Town of Wilmington is very excited to be hosting the Wilmington/Whiteface 100k," said Randy Preston, Town of Wilmington supervisor. "As a national caliber event, it will bring the best of the best from the competitive mountain bike set to the Northeast. We are anxious to show the world what mountain biking in the Adirondacks is all about."

The event’s schedule coincides with the annual Wilmington Bike Fest, which includes the Whiteface Uphill Bike Race, which will be held on Saturday, June 18. Wilmington/Whiteface 100k participants are invited to “Warm UP” by riding in the mountain bike division that is being introduced this year; a five mile race to the top of the Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway.

“The event is a perfect fit for the destination, as it supports the Whiteface Region‘s brand as a biking destination, and will increase visitor activity during the typically slower shoulder season,” said James McKenna, president of the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism/Lake Placid CVB. “This is another event that resulted from the cooperative partnerships that were cemented in order to successfully host the Empire State Winter Games. Kudos to the staff at the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) who facilitated the connection with the event organizers that ultimately brought this event to Wilmington.”

"Wilmington and Whiteface Mountain comprise a mecca for outdoor recreation, from skiing and riding to world class fly fishing and cycling," said Ted Blazer, ORDA president/CEO. "This event will definitely challenge the competitors, and serve to highlight some of the greatest mountain bike terrain in the Adirondacks."

Showcasing some of the best places to ride in America, the Leadville Qualifying Series races will be held in America’s great mountains with races in the Adirondacks, Sierra Nevadas and the Rockies. The other two qualifiers will be held in North Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada Mountains on July 10 and Crested Butte, Colorado on July 31. Each qualifying race will provide 100 qualifying spots to the Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike Race. The spots will be allocated partially on the basis of age-group performance and partly by lottery among finishers.

Whiteface Re-Opens this Weekend

Wilmington, NY - Don’t put away the skis and the boards just yet, the golf clubs, the rakes and the spring cleaning chores can wait one more weekend. Whiteface Mountain, in Wilmington, N.Y., re-opens Friday through Sunday, April 15-17, for more great spring skiing and riding.

The Face Lift, Summit Quad and Mountain Run chairs will be available for skiers and riders so no beginner terrain will be available. Lift tickets prices will be $35 for adults, $30 for teens and seniors and just $25 for adults.

While you’re there, don’t miss out on super pass holder savings including 50% off on merchandise at the Whiteface gift shop and the all you can eat pasta buffet in the Ausable Room, from 2-4 p.m., Sunday. Pass holders can enjoy the buffet for $6 for adults, $4 for children under 12 or $20 for the entire family.

Finally, season passes for the 2011-12 skiing and riding season at Whiteface are still available. Passes for next season begin at $419 for adults (ages 23-64), $299 for juniors (7-12) and just $30 for skiers or riders six and under.

Still More Skiing and Riding at Whiteface

Pond Skimming Scheduled for Saturday

Wilmington, NY - There’s still plenty of great skiing and riding at Whiteface, in Wilmington, N.Y. Enjoy a full day on the Olympic mountain for just $57 for adults (20-64) and $47 for teens (13-19) and seniors (65-69). A single-day lift ticket is also only $34 for juniors (7-12) and $38 for skiers and riders 70 years old and older, and as always children six and under are free.

Whiteface will remain open daily, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., through Sunday, April 10, and weather and conditions permitting re-open the following weekend, Friday through Sunday, April 15-17.

This Saturday everyone is invited to participate in the annual pond skimming contest. Saturday’s pond skimming contest fun begins at noon, outside the Base Lodge and prizes will be given out for distance, best costume, splash and more. The event is free and registration will take place at the guest services desk from 9-11:30 a.m.

Also, 2011-2012 season pass are still available, beginning at $419 for adults, $299 for juniors and just $30 for skiers or riders six and under. When you purchase your season pass for the 2011-12 skiing and riding season, the rest of this season is free.

Ten Inch Snowfall at Holiday Valley Means More Fun on the Slopes this Weekend

Ellicottville, NY - In like a lamb, out like a lion... March’s weather is proving the old adage to be true. Holiday Valley Resort received ten inches of snow on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, giving the resort a total snowfall of 251 inches so far this season...that’s almost 21 feet of snow! Even though March arrived like a lamb with milder temperatures, Holiday Valley’s average base depth is a generous 19 to 51 inches, with areas of over 10 feet of base. The new snow was groomed in to the base to make a very skiable packed powder and granular surface, which will be great for this weekend’s events.

The annual Pond Skimming Spring Party takes place on Saturday at the base of the Yodeler slope. About 50 brave and hearty souls will ski or ride down the Yodeler slope and attempt to cross a 60 foot ice water filled pond. Prizes will be awarded to the best skimmer, the best crash, the best costume and the best child skimmer. Holiday Valley’s Ride for Roswell Team will be conducting a fundraising raffle and a cookout, a tiki bar and “Parrot Head” music will add to the festivities.

The annual Slush Cup ski race will be held on Sunday on Edelweiss. This last race of the year is a slalom format held for USSA racers ages 13 to 18.

Holiday Valley plans to operate its slopes until April 10 to coincide with the opening of the front nine holes of the Double Black Diamond Golf Course. “This has been an excellent season with record visits in December and January. With the new snow and cooler predicted temperatures, we’re on track for a great wrap up of the year,” said Dennis Eshbaugh, President of the resort. “We’re already planning for improvements this summer and next season with the new Sky High Adventure Park, a new quad chairlift and snowmaking expansion.”

Reggae Fest Beach Party Weekend March 26-27!

Highmount, NY - Winter just ain't letting go! Since the beginning of spring it has snowed everyday at Belleayre and it’s still not golf season yet! We are nearing the end of the season but the Belleayre calendar is still packed with fun family events over the next few weeks and we still have TONS OF SNOW. Come on up to the Catskills and find out why this is our favorite month. Warm temps, great snow, soft bumps, and relaxing at a BBQ on the deck in the sun with your friends… there is nothing like spring skiing at Belleayre. It’s a taste of paradise, so very close and so affordable. $20 Wednesdays, $25 Customer Appreciation Fridays, Potter Brothers Flex Sundays and the 5 & 10 College Promotion make Belleayre the most affordable option for skiers and riders to get the most bumps for their buck. People looking to stay over should contact the Belleayre Region Lodging Association because local hotels are offering great deals for Ski and Stay packages the entire month of March. Don’t miss all of the fun events for all ages still to come such Reggae Fest Weekend, the Dummy Race, the Turn n Burn, Jimmy's Belleayre Park Jam, Gaper Day, The Pop Quiz Bump Race, and the Winni/Belle/ Wana Relay Bump Race and of course the Belleayre Hall of Fame Dinner Dance, just to mention a few.

Whiteface Wins About.Com’s 2011 Readers’ Choice Award for Best Ski Resort in the East

Wilmington, NY - The New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) today, Tuesday, March 15, announced that Whiteface Mountain, in Wilmington, N.Y., has been selected as the About.com 2011 Readers' Choice Award winner for best ski resort in the eastern United States. Now in its fourth year, the About.com Readers' Choice Awards honor the best products, features and services across more than a dozen categories, ranging from technology to hobbies to parenting and more, as selected by its readers.

"This year's Readers' Choice Awards program had a record number of nominations submitted across more than a dozen categories and featured hundreds of finalists," said Margot Weiss, managing editor, About.com. "We are thankful to all our readers for their participation and congratulate ORDA and Whiteface on their success."

Whiteface which boasts the greatest vertical in the east, as well as 283 skiable acres and 86 trails, was the only State of New York ski resort in the finals. The other finalists included Vermont’s Killington, Mount Snow, Stratton and Stowe.

In December, About.com also recognized Whiteface as one of the nation’s top family ski destinations, one of only three eastern resorts to make the list. The on-line article touted the mountain as “an ideal venue for a family ski vacation,” and also describes many of the off-hill activities found in Wilmington and in Lake Placid including a tour of the Olympic sites, ice skating and partaking in the full schedule of winter events for the family.

Whiteface 2011-12 Skiing and Riding Season Passes on Sale Now

Wilmington, NY - It’s never too early to get a jump on the 2011-12 skiing and riding season at Whiteface Mountain, in Wilmington, N.Y. Season passes for next season are on sale now, beginning at $419 for adults (ages 23-64), $299 for juniors (7-12) and just $30 for skiers or riders six and under.

And when you purchase your season pass for the 2011-12 skiing and riding season, the rest of this season is free. That’s not all. Through Saturday, March 18, current and new season pass holders will receive 50% off all regular price merchandise at Centerplate gift shop locations including Mt. Van Hoevenberg, the Olympic Jumping Complex and Whiteface.

This Saturday, current and new season pass holders will receive a 42% discount off all food and beverage, after 1 p.m. at Whiteface, and every Sunday this month pass holders can enjoy an all you can eat pasta buffet, $6 for adults, $4 for children under 12 or $20 for the entire family. The buffet will be served in the Whiteface Mountain Base Lodge Ausable Room from 2-4 p.m.

$0.50 Lift Tickets for 50th Anniversary

Tuxedo, NY - Ski Sterling Forest opened in December 1961 and many remember learning to ski and snowboard there as a child. Many of those skiers and snowboarders are now bringing their children to the same beloved ski center, albeit bearing the new name Tuxedo Ridge Ski Center.

December 2011 will mark the 50th Birthday for the ski center now known as Tuxedo Ridge. To celebrate, Tuxedo Ridge is offering 50¢ lift tickets this Saturday, March 12, from 9am-5pm.

There is still tons of snow and spring skiing is better than it has been in decades! said James Mezzetti, owner. We wanted to do something special to kick-off the 50th year and 50¢ lift tickets is just the start of the festivities. We plan to celebrate all summer and next winter with fun events and promotions.

In addition to 50¢ lift tickets on Saturday, Tuxedo Ridge is also offering $5 snow tubing for hour-long sessions beginning at 6pm. Sunday, March 13, is the annual Carboard Cup Racewhere participants enter a sled made out of cardboard and duct tape (for free) and race down the mountain.

Irish I Was Skiing or Riding Party

Windham, NY - 10 days until St. Patrick's Day! Start the party early at Windham Mountain this weekend. Legend has it that if you catch a leprechaun you get the gold (kids can catch the leprechaun who has gold coin chocolate). We will feature the Greene County Pipe and Drum band from 11am-2pm, and Rosemary Campbell School of Irish Dance will perform on the patio at 1 pm. The Ruffians an Irish soul band will play in Legends Lounge from 3pm-6pm with Guinness drink specials all weekend.
(03/12/11)

March Madness Moon and Starz (03/19/11)
Come take your best foul shot and join the festivities on the back patio with our favorite band, Johnny Moon and Starz, games, and stilt walkers. Windham Mountain is offering $25 lift tickets for skiers and riders wearing college team jerseys. To validate your pass jersey must be worn and visible each time you enter the lift corral. Johnny Moon and Starz will play from 2 pm - 5 pm on the back

Marchapalooza is Underway at Belleayre Mountain

Highmount, NY - Marchapalooza is underway at Belleayre Mountain so come on up to the Catskills and find out why this is our favorite month. Warm temps, great snow, soft bumps, and relaxing at a BBQ on the deck in the sun with your friends… there is nothing like spring skiing at Belleayre. It’s a taste of paradise, so very close and so affordable. Why go to St. Moritz when Belleayre is just right up the road. March is the month for skiing and riding and Belleayre has great deals for everyone. $20 Wednesdays, $25 Customer Appreciation Fridays, Potter Brothers Flex Sundays and the new 5 & 10 College Promotion make Belleayre the most affordable option for skiers and riders to get the most bang for their buck. People looking to stay over should contact the Belleayre Region Lodging Association because local hotels are offering great deals for Ski and Stay packages the entire month of March. And the Belleayre spring calendar is packed with fun family events for all ages such as the Pine Hill Arms Triathlon, the Tailgate Competition, the Dummy Race, the Cardboard Classic and Reggae Fest Weekend just to mention a few.

The 5 and 10 College Promotion
Can’t afford to go out West for a Spring Break Ski Trip? Don’t be jealous of your friends who go away. Bring the party to Belleayre for an affordable Spring Break Getaway. For the month of March, groups of 5 or more college students pay $25 per person, everyday. Bring a group of 10 students or more and get lift tickets for $20 per person. To participate in this promotion visit the Guest Services Desk at either Overlook or Discovery Lodge. Each person in the group must show a current valid college ID or a letter from the school’s Bursar’s Office verifying current enrollment.

Belleayre Mountain and the Center for Spectrum Services have partnered to present a special Ski for Autism Day to be held at Belleayre on Saturday, March 12, 2011. Belleayre Mountain has generously donated 200 specially-priced lift tickets to be sold by Spectrum Services with all proceeds to support the many programs that are offered by the Center for Spectrum Services to enhance the quality of life for children with autism and their families throughout the Hudson Valley. Special $25 lift tickets (first 200 registrants) will provide guests with a full day of skiing, as well as automatic entry into the Race for Autism ski and snowboard race taking place the same day. Purchasers interested in participating in the race can register on the mountain on the day of the event. Center for Spectrum Services will also be presenting an information table to increase community awareness and operating a 50/50 raffle. Tickets are $25 and will be available on a first come, first served basis at Belleayre Mountain beginning at 8:00 a.m. on March 12th. The Race will begin at 10:30 on Yahoo. Helmets are required.

Celebrate the Luck of the Irish with Another Super Sunday at Whiteface

Wilmington, NY - It’s another Super Sunday, this Sunday, March 13, at Whiteface Mountain, in Wilmington, N.Y. Come celebrate the luck of the Irish with “Shamrock” Sunday, presented by Bud Light, at the Olympic mountain, where skiing and riding is just $35 for adults, $30 for teens and $25 for juniors.

While at Whiteface, skiers and riders can log on to Whiteface’s Facebook and Twitter pages as clues are revealed throughout the day for the on mountain scavenger hunt and win gear from local ski shops including Cunningham’s Ski Barn, Maui North and Viking Ski Shop. At 3 p.m., the party moves to the Cloudspin Lounge for drink specials, prizes, and live music from Trenchtown Oddities.

Whiteface boasts the greatest vertical east of the Rockies, 283 skiable acres and 86 trails and was recently named the number-one ski resort in the eastern United States by readers of SKI Magazine. The mountain also received high marks for its Après-Ski (#2), Dining (#2), Family Programs (#2), Scenery (#2), Terrain/Challenge (#2), Lodging (#4) and Overall Satisfaction (#5). And for the 18th consecutive year, Whiteface/Lake Placid was chosen number-one for its Off-Hill Activities, thanks to its array of Olympic-style sports including bobsledding, ice skating, cross country skiing, ski jumping, as well as events such as World Cup racing, shows and concerts.

Springfest at Whiteface Lake Placid

Longer Days, More Sun, Warmer Weather…and Live Music and Fun for Everyone
Wilmington, NY - There’s more than 160-inches of snow at Whiteface, in Wilmington, N.Y., and you know what that means. More great skiing and riding for the entire family well into March at the Olympic mountain, not to mention the longer days, more sunshine and warmer weather.

Celebration activities have been planned to welcome spring; kicking off with Mardi Gras, March 5-6 Ski, ride, collect beads and get upstairs to the Cloudspin Lounge for food and drink specials and live music from the funk, R &B and soul group Jocamo.

There’s plenty of fun for the kids too. They’ll have the chance to play in the snow with Curious George, March 4-6. The PBS character can be found at Kids Kampus each day and parents who enroll their children in a full day kids Kampus program with Curious George will receive a $20 discount off a one day lift ticket.

Gather your green March 12 and 13 and celebrate St. Patty’s Day at the mountain where you’ll also find Irish fun, food and festivities. And don’t forget Super Shamrock Sunday, March 13, brought to you by Bud Light. Ski and ride all day for just $35 for adults, $30 for teens and $25 for juniors and afterward join the party in the Cloudspin Lounge with live music by Trenchtown Oddities.

There’s more great fun and music the next two weekends too. It’s Reggae Weekend, March 19-20, with music in the Cloudspin Lounge from the Big Take Over, Saturday, March 19, and the following weekend, March 26-27, it’s a Pirate Party at Whiteface, featuring music from Y Not Blue.

Boarding for Breast Cancer

Ellicottville, NY - Holiday Valley Resort announces the third annual
Boarding for Breast Cancer event on February 12, 2011. Boarding for Breast Cancer is a non-profit fundraising foundation that focuses on education, especially in the areas of early detection and the value of an active lifestyle. The B4BC foundation seeks to engage youths by partnering with snow communities like Holiday Valley to raise awareness about breast cancer among young people. The Boardroom Board Shop in Ellicottville is Holiday Valley’s partner in presenting this event, and sponsors are Holiday Valley Realty/ Rental Management and Buffalo MRI.

Events during the day include women’s only snowboard clinics on learning to snowboard, riding the parks, or freeriding, a ‘Breast Trick’ rail park event open to men and women, a silent auction (featuring a Danny Kass autographed snowboard), Chinese auction, music and bar specials. Participants may register for the event between 11 AM and noon in the Overlook rooms at upstairs in the Clubhouse Chalet. The registration fee for any and all events is $40, and participants may purchase a specially priced lift ticket for $30. Participants are also invited to demo equipment from local shops. The goal of the event is to raise awareness about breast cancer and early detection by focusing on what women can do to keep themselves healthy.

In addition to the on-snow events, Holiday Valley is offering many more ways to show your support for Boarding for Breast Cancer. Through February 12, guest may purchase a “Pink Lift Ticket” and donate a dollar to B4BC. Supporters will get a pink ribbon sticker for their ticket or season pass. Buy a B4BC heart at the Holiday Valley Bars or Customer Service for $1. Pink lawn flamingoes will be cropping up at lift bases where you can vote for your favorite lift: the lift with the most flamingoes wins a pizza party for the lift attendants. Raffle tickets for gift baskets will be available on February 13th in the Clubhouse and John Harvard’s Bars. The Boardroom is decorating their shop with paper bras. Customers can “purchase” a bra for a donation. The higher the donation, the larger the size!

Proceeds from the Holiday Valley Boarding for Breast Cancer event will benefit the Women’s Oncology Program at Camp Good Days on Keuka Lake in Branchport, NY as well as the Boarding for Breast Cancer Awareness Programs. The Women’s Oncology Program is a residential camping experience, which was begun in 1996 in order to bring together women who have gone through or are going through cancer to share their
experiences and to strengthen and rebuild their physical and emotional well being. Through donations from its supporters, the Women’s Oncology Program is able to offer its camping sessions free of charge to its participants.

It’s Kearney and Colas Again in Lake Placid

Wilmington, NY - When American Hannah Kearney (Norwich, Vt.) races on Whiteface Mountain, in Wilmington, N.Y., the question is, “Who’s going to finish second?” Kearney won for the third straight time on the Olympic mountain, when she skied to another first place finish during Sunday’s, Jan. 23, FIS Nature Valley Freestyle World Cup women’s moguls’ competition.

The reigning Olympic champion and current overall World Cup leader came away with her second victory of the weekend when she tallied 26.12 points from the scoring judges. Two judges even awarded Kearney perfect scores of 5.0.

“It’s great to get perfect scores, but I’m more happy with how consistent I was all weekend. I’m most excited about winning all four runs,” noted Kearney. “At the top during the finals today I was hearing some pretty high scores and that just pushed and focused me even more before my run.”

For the second day in a row, Canadians occupied the podium’s two remaining steps. Chloe Dufour-LaPointe claimed the silver medal with 24.85 points, while Kristi Richards won bronze with a final point total of 24.57.

France’s Guilbault Colas is also feeling right at home on the 240-meter long Wilderness trail course. The men’s World Cup leader also picked up his second gold medal this weekend, squeaking by two more Canadians to grab the event’s top spot.

Colas skied to 25.70 points, just .11 points more than silver medalist Mikael Kingsbury. Kingsbury’s teammate and fellow Canadian, Alexandre-Pierre Rousseau, finished in the bronze medal spot, with 25.16 points from the judges.

This weekend’s FIS Nature Valley Freestyle World Cup event brought more than 140 athletes from 19 countries to the region. It was also the only freestyle World Cup in the United States.

Be sure to look for all of this weekend’s World Cup action NBC and Versus. NBC’s coverage is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 29, at 2 p.m., while Versus’ coverage is slated to begin at 3 p.m., Saturday. Versus will also air coverage of the event, Sunday, Jan. 30, beginning at 2 p.m. Check your local listings.